11 DAYS GRAND CAUCASUS TOUR : ARMENIA – GEORGIA – AZERBAIJAN

DAY 1 HOME – YEREVAN

Arrival to Tbilisi. Upon arrival, meet our guide at the airport. Transfer to hotel for Check In. Day free at leisure to explore Armenia capital Yerevan on your own. Overnight in Yerevan.

DAY 2 YEREVAN

Breakfast at hotel. Then at 12:00, we will start exploring Yerevan, visit Mother Armenia monument and get a spectacular view of Mt. Ararat with panorama of central Yerevan. Visit the Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Manuscripts. Take a tour of Cascade complex, Opera House, Northern Avenue and Republic Square. Visit Armenian Genocide Memorial. Take a tour of “Vernissage” to buy souvenirs and gifts. Visit fruit market “Shouka” to buy traditional sweets or dry fruits. Overnight in Yerevan.

DAY 3 KHOR VIRAP – ECHMIADZIN – ZVARTNOTS – YEREVAN

Breakfast at hotel. At 09:00, drive to Khor Virap monastery, where the Mt. Ararat reveals its breathtaking size and splendor. Drive to Echmiadzin, the spiritual and administrative center of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Visit the Main Cathedral of Echmiadzin and attend the Holy Liturgy (Sundays). Return to Yerevan. En route visit ruins of the 7th century Zvartnots Temple. Return to Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan.

DAY 4 GARNI – GEGHARD – LAKE SEVAN – HAGHPAT – TBILISI

Breakfast at hotel. At 09:00 check out from hotel. Drive to the oldest surviving building on the territory of Armenia, the 1st century Garni Pagan Temple. Visit one of the most beautiful monasteries in Armenia, the 13th century cave monastery of Geghard. Drive to Lake Sevan. Visit monastery of Sevanavank on Sevan peninsula. Continue to Dilijan, a resort town renowned for its charming nature and extraordinary architecture. Visit the historical district of Old Dilijan, the Sharambeyan Street. Drive to Alaverdi. Visit Haghpat monastery. Drive to Armenia-Georgia border. After border formalities, drive to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi.

DAY 5 GUDAURI – KAZBEGI – TBILISI

Breakfast at hotel. At 09:00, drive towards the Caucasus Mountains, we will make a stop on the bank of the Zhinvali reservoir and visit Ananuri castle. Continuing upwards to the alpine ski resort at Gudauri, we will follow the old Georgian Military road through Cross Pass to arrive in Stephantsminda, here we will enjoy view from Gergeti church. After exotic lunch in a local family, return to Tbilisi hotel. Overnight in Tbilisi.

DAY 6 SIGNAGI – KVARELI – TELAVI

Breakfast at hotel. At 09:00, drive to fortified city of Signagi which is surrounded with a wall with 28 watch towers, visit convent of Bodbe, the territory of the monastery offers spectacular views of the land of the best Georgian wines - Alazani Valley with peaks of the Greater Caucasus towering behind it. After Bodbe we continue to the tunnel winery at Khareba to taste Kakhetian wines made according local traditions in Kvevri. Visit Gremi fortress and continue to Telavi, visit the old town. Check in to hotel. Overnight in Kakheti.

DAY 7 TELAVI – TSINANDALI – ALAVERDI – TBILISI

Breakfast at hotel. At 09:00, we will start with Telavi food market and continue to Alaverdi Cathedral. Built in the early XI century, it is one of four Great Cathedrals of the country and the highest of the ancient churches of Georgia. Next stop is in the Tsinandali estate - well known for its beauty. Prince Alexander Chavchavadze was a poet and a prominent figure in Georgia. In his home you can find an art gallery and a bar, where you can try Tsinandali - the first Georgian wine produced in accordance with the European technology. Continue visiting Ikalto Academy and Shuamta monastery complex; drive to Tbilisi hotel via beautiful Gombori pass. Overnight in Tbilisi.

DAY 08 LAGODEKHI – SHEKI

Breakfast at hotel. At 09:00, drive to Lagodekhi border with Azerbaijan. Cross the border, meet your local guide and start exploring Azerbaijan – the land of fire. Drive to Sheki. On the way, visit the first Albanian church in Caucasus in the village Kish dating back to the 1st century AD. Have a short sightseeing tour on arrival: visit Sheki medieval fortress, Sheki Khans Palace, handicrafts workshop, panoramic view of the town, mosque-madrassah, and local bazaar. Overnight in Sheki.

DAY 09 SHAMAKHI – BAKU

Breakfast at hotel. At 09:00, drive to Baku. On the way visit historical mosque Juma and mausoleum of Seven Domes – Yeddi Gumbez in Shamakhi town. visit the Shirvan Shah's family grave yard. Arrival in Baku. Evening tour 1 hour. Overnight in Baku.

DAY 10 GOBUSTAN – BAKU

Breakfast at hotel. At 09:00, start exploring, today you will visit the area of the Greater Baku and Absheron peninsula. Start with Gobustan National Park. Pay a visit to the Petroglyphs Museum and explore petroglyphs dating back to 10,000 BC. Continue to mud volcanoes in Gobustan Reserve. Gobustan is home to almost half of world’s mud volcanoes. Later drive to Ateshgah – temple of fire worshippers located in Surakhany village. Zoroastrians from India travelled thousands of kilometers to Ateshgah to worship fire coming out of the earth. Drive to Yanardag Mountain with natural gas burning for several thousands of years. Overnight in Baku.

DAY 11: BAKU – HOME

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Baku airport for departure. Our services end here…